Electric device for signaling the position of a movable mark



M. KOULICOVITCH 2,375,665,

ELECTRIC DEVICE FOR SIGNALING THE POSITION OF A MOVABLE MARK May 8, 1945.

' Fi led Spt. 24; 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zzzz/ezz Z01 ay 3, 1945- M. KOULICOVITCH 2,375,665-

ELECTRIC DEVICE FOR SIGNALING THE POSITIONOF A MOVABLE MARK Filed Sept. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor M 056 1600032010 Patented Ma 8,'194f5 ELECTRIC nnvros FOR SIGNALING Tm; POSITION or AMOVABLE MARK Maurice Ko'uiicovitch, Geneva,'Switzerland, assigner to Societe Genevoise d'lnstruments dc Switzerland, a firm of V Physique, Geneva,

Switzerland Application September 24, 1942, Serial No. 459,580

' In Switzerland February 28, 1942 40mm. (or. 177-311) The object of the present invention is an electric device for signaling the position of a movable mark, device which can be applied in particular to a machine-tool. It comprises a photo-electric sighter projecting the imageof' a movable mark through a grid on a photo-electric cell and a periodical deflector of the image of the mark on the grid producing periodical electric impulses emanating from the cell. This device-is characterized by a generator of other periodical electric impulsed of the same frequency as those coming from the cell, by an organ permitting to retard or to advance at will. the impulses of this generator in respect with those of the cell and by a signaling relay comprising two circuits, one of which is fed by the cell and the other by the impulse generator, in such a way that this relay can only react when the impulses received in these two circuits coincide in time. w

Figs. 1 and 1A considered jointly illustrate diagrammatically, by way of example, an embodiment of the object of 'the invention. Fig. 2 illustrates the operation :of this embodiment.

In this Fig. 1,.Arepresents a-photo-electric device sighting the positionof a movable mark 2 of. a tool-machine, for instance. B is a periodical defiector enabling to impart a continuous oscillatory movement to the image of the mark on a grid 9 placed before a photo-electric cell I whose reactions are reinforced by an amplifier C.

D is a. generator of electric impulses of very short duration and of the same frequency as those coming out of the amplifier C. These two organs are fed by a. common network that imposes to them its own frequency.

E is a phase regulator enabling to advance or to retard the phase of the impulses produced by the generator D in relation to the phase of the network;

F isan electric signaling apparatus connected in such a way to the generator D and to the amplifier C, that it only reacts when the impulses received from the amplifier C are in phase with those received from the generator D.

. The detail of the above mentioned. elements is as follows: I

The machine-tool comprisesa table carrying 'a rule I with a scale 2. This table can move under the action ofa motor M. An objective 3, placed above the graduated rule, projects the image of a few divisions of the scale 2 on a grid 9, through a plane parallel glass 4 mounted in a frame I on which is wound 'an electric coil la. The latter is connected to the alternating current network 25,

terminals 6 and 6'; it is placed in the field of-a permanent magnet 8, of whose poles, one only is represented, in 8 The fluctuations of light coming out of the grid 9 are received by a photo-electric cell lll,

whose reactions are communicated to the grid ll of a first amplifying valve I2. In the anode circuit of the last amplifying valve I3 is inserted the primary winding of an outlet transformer ll, whose secondary circuit is connected to the grid l of a valve l6, which has two grids. The other grid lie transformer 22,- Finally. the valve l8 .feeds through its anode circuit the winding 23 of an electric signaling relay, whose movable armature carries a contact 24, which can close a utilisation circuit branched on -the network 25,

The operation of this device is as follows:

Suppos n that the mark 2 of the scale of the rule I comes near to a position in which it must be signaled. This position has been determined by a preliminary adjustment oi'the phase regulator 2 l which permits, by adjusting the resistance 2| to vary the amount of leading or of lagging-of the impulses, which are produced in the following way by the impulse generator Dr The valve 19 transforms the sine-curve tension of the network (Fig, 2a) into a rectified tension (Fig. 2b) having sharp minima in 21, 21, 21" etc.

The valve I1 is adjusted so as to amplify exclusively the region in close proximity to these minima, The curve of the tension amplified by this I valve is represented by the diagram the transformer Ha supplies at its terminals a tension represented by the ciirve 2d, this tension forms a succession of impulses.

One obtains by this process; for each complete period of. the sine-curve tension, two points of tension as brief as one requires and. whose tops coincide with the precise instant in which the initial sine-curve 2a passes through zero.

These impulses are transmitted to the grid 15a of the valve l6.

The image of the mark 2 and of the neighbouring marks is projected on the grid 9 through the oscillating deflecting glass 4, which gives it a tothrough flexible supporting blades 5 and 5' and and-fro motion in the rhythm of the network frephoto-electric reaction of the cell I, which reaction is amplified in the valves l2 and II and transmitted to the grid l5. r i

As long as the mark 2 has not reached the position to be signaled, the impulses received by the two grids ofthe valve i8 do not coincide in time. Now, the valve is has'both its grids I and lid polarised negatively by the resistance 26 at such a value, that, even if one of the two grids becomes positive, the valve is not opened; it is necessary that both grids become positive at the same time in order that the anode current can be established, and this only occurs in the case in "which the mark 2 arrives in the position to be signaled. The anode current excites the winding 23 of the signaling relay. The latter can then control any kind 0i signal or,,for instance, a device to stop the table.

The wiring diagram is not restricted to that of the embodiment represented. The wiring or the various elements of the generator, of the phase regulator, and of the signaling relay, could make the object of numerous alternatives remaining within the scope oi the invention.

A great advantage of this signaling device is to express by a notion of time the position of the object to be observed, so that the precision of the operation is independent of the intensity of the current emitted by the cell.

I have now described the object of the invention in such a way as to make it clear for those acquainted with the art.

What is claimed to be new is:

1. An electric device for signaling the position of a machine, part comprising a mark movable with the machine part, a grid, a photo-electric cell, means for producing an image of said mark, a periodical deflector for projecting the image of said mark through the grid to said cell to produce periodic electrical impulses, a generator for producing other periodic electric impulses of the same frequency as those produced by said cell, means to retard or to advance the impulses of said generator with respect to the impulses of the cell, and a signaling relay including an electric valve having two grids respectively receiving the electric impulses from the cell and generator in such manner that the relay can only react when the impulses received in the two grids coincide as to time.

2. An electric device as claimed claim 1, characterized in that the impulse generator and the periodical deflector are connected in a common alternating "current net-work.

3. An electric device .as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the provision of an amplifier arranged intermediate the photo-electric cell and said relay.

4. An electric device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in thatsaid means to retard or to advance the generator impulses is constituted by a phase-regulator.

MAURICE KOULICOVITCH. 

